Most Americans Are Unaware that HPV Causes Cancer

A research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics states that over 70% of adults in the US are unaware that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes anal, penile, and oral cancers.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and some are known to cause cancers and genital warts. The HPV vaccine can protect against cancers caused by the virus, and the CDC recommends boys and girls ages 9-14 receiving a two-dose immunization with a three-dose schedule is recommended if the first dose was given on or after the patient’s 15th birthday. Recently, CDC also recommended that adults ages 27-45 get the HPV vaccine based on a consultation with their physician.

The study comprised 2,564 men and 3,697 women who participated in the Health Information National Trend Survey. The results showed that two-thirds of men and one-third of women ages 18-26 did not know that HPV causes cervical cancer. More than 80% of men and 75% of women in the same age group – and 70% of American adults of any age – did not know that HPV can cause oral, anal, and penile cancers.

Moreover, the analysis showed that, of people who were vaccine-eligible or had vaccine-eligible family members, only 19% of men and 31.5% of women received recommendations for the vaccine from a health care provider. “The lack of knowledge may have contributed to low HPV vaccination rates in the United States,” said Ashish A. Deshmukh, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at UTHealth School of Public Health, and lead researcher of the study in a press release.

Results are ‘Concerning’

“Low levels of HPV knowledge in these older age groups is particularly concerning, given that these individuals are (or will likely be) parents responsible for making HPV vaccination decisions for their children,” said Kalyani Sonawane, PhD, assistant professor at UTHealth School of Public Health, the study’s co-lead author.

https://twitter.com/clin_owl/status/1173716268463067136?s=20

Prof. Deshmukh added that: “HPV vaccination campaigns have focused heavily on cervical cancer prevention in women. Our findings demonstrate a need to educate both sexes regarding HPV and HPV vaccination.” “Rates of cervical cancer have declined in the last 15 to 20 years because of screening. On the other hand, there was a greater than 200% increase in oropharyngeal cancer rates in men and a nearly 150% rise in anal cancer rates in women.”

HPV vaccination coverage in the US is under 50%, well under the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80%

Public Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus and Receipt of Vaccination Recommendations https://t.co/qecdzjY32s #VaccinesWork #IVax2Protect

— stephy (@stephaniekays) September 17, 2019

Only 1/3 of men ages 18-26 are aware of the connection between #HPV and cervical cancer, according to a new study in @JAMAPediatrics. https://t.co/pCesIKuioM

— IDSA (@IDSAInfo) September 17, 2019